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Jason Franz, professor of rehabilitation engineering in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, will open the 2026-27 season of the Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series Monday, Sept. 14, when he delivers “From Mechanisms to Mobility: Engineering Solutions for Healthy Aging” from 1:25–2:15 p.m. in Furcolo Hall, Room 125.

An annual series of multiple guest lectures presented by the Center for Research on Families (CRF), the Tay Gavin Erickson Lecture Series brings numerous nationally recognized speakers with expertise in family research to campus each year.

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Franz’s lecture will explore how aging of the Achilles tendon and foot contributes to reduced walking efficiency and physical performance in older adults. Drawing on over 10 years of experimental and computational research, it will connect changes in tendon mechanics to muscle and limb function, walking economy, speed, and fatigue resistance, and discuss applications such as ankle exoskeletons, personalized treatment for Achilles tendinopathy, footwear design, fatigue reduction and fall prevention. A broader theme will be the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, creativity, curiosity, and mentorship in advancing biomechanics research.

Franz’s research focuses on biomechanics and rehabilitation technologies that help people maintain mobility and age more safely. He has 180+ publications and leads multiple NIH-funded projects on age- and disease-related mobility limitations and fall prevention. He also holds leadership roles in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, the American Society of Biomechanics, and the UNC School of Medicine. In 2023, he cofounded VETTA Solutions, a startup developing wearable sensing and biofeedback technologies to help prevent and slow joint disease.

To register to attend for Franz’s Sept. 14 lecture, complete the form here. Future lectures will be posted on the CRF events page as they are confirmed.